Utah Jazz

Jazz fan pleads for Kings to not bench key players in finale

A Jazz fan tries to get the Kings to play at full strength to help get Utah in the playoffs.

The Utah Jazz are in a tough spot if they are going to make the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Losing 101-92 to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night now means that the Jazz need to win their final game and need the Houston Rockets to lose their season finale against the Sacramento Kings to secure the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Kings have nothing to play for as they are not going to make the playoffs and with that comes an injury report that lists DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo and Darren Collison are listed as out due to rest, and then Marco Belinelli is out with a sore right foot and Omri Casspi is sitting due to right hamstring strain.

The reasoning behind this is because the Kings owe the Chicago Bulls a draft pick but it is a top-10 protected selection, so sitting five of their best six players nearly ensures that the Kings will have another loss and move up the draft order toward a better pick and not down.

One Utah Jazz fan is not having any of this and emailed the Kings and pleaded with the organization to play its best in a chance to top the Rockets, and help the Jazz make the playoffs.

Here is the text of the letter.

Dear George Karl,

I hope this email finds you well. First of all I want to let you [know] how much I respect you as a coach. You have always coached with class, dignity, and success. I am writing you this letter today to ask that you please play all of your players tomorrow night against Houston. I am under no illusion that you have to do such a thing and I know that sitting these guys would most likely help you get a better draft pick but I am asking you as a competitor.

You have always been one of the most competitive coaches in the NBA and I know you can’t possibly feel good about letting the Rockets waltz into the playoffs without giving your all, but that would be exactly what you are doing if you allow your best players to sit. Obviously I have a rooting interest in my favorite team (The Jazz) getting into the playoffs, but it’s about more than that, it’s about the sanctity of the of the sport and making sure that the 8 most deserving teams actually get into the playoffs in the West.

Obliviously this has been a tumultuous season for the Kings, but what better way to end it than by knocking arguably the most hated team in the league out of the playoffs. You can start next season with the confidence and momentum. Do you really want James Harden to flop his way to the playoffs, or for Patrick Beverly to be rewarded for being a punk, or for Dwight Howard to seeming not care the entire season and be rewarded with the playoff?

At the very least, I ask that you give each player a choice whether they want to play or not, I could never imagine a true competitor not savoring at the opportunity to knock a rival out of the playoffs.

Thank you for your time and I hope you do the right thing.

This is a passionate fan but first off this is not George Karl’s call plus Cousins, Rondo and Collison did not travel to the previous game against the Suns and is not with the team for the finale in Houston so they are out no matter what.

Good job, good effort.

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